Catholic Dictionary

Term

APOLLINARIANISM

Definition

Heretical doctrine of Apollinaris the younger (310-90), Bishop of Laodicea, that Christ had a human body and only a sensitive soul, but had no rational mind or free human will. His rational soul was replaced by the divine logos, or word of God. The theory was condemned by Roman councils in 377 and 381. Apollinarianism practically disappeared by the early fifth century, with some of its adherents returning to the Church, and others becoming Monophysites believing that Christ had only a divine will but no human will.

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